The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-24
"what shall do then with Jesus, which is


There are days when properly the
pulpit can only discuss one theme. The
Fourth of July calls for discussion of
some phase of our national life. On the
30th of May the thought turns to our
Union armies, their sacrifices and their
valor. On the twenty-second of Feb
ruary the thoughts go back century
and linger about Mount Vernon. So
to-day the mind takes backward
fight over the centuries. Up out of
the mists of the past rises, in especial
distinctness, beautiful personality.
Of course we celebrate the birthday of
our religion. Christianity covers wide
field. 1t really includes almost every
influence that makes man better and
happier. But Christ is the source of it
all, as the sun is of the light that fills
the earth. He is the fountain whose
sparkling waters give life and beauty
to the entire landscape of our faith. 1t
seems especially fitting at this time
that our thoughts gather very closely
about the Master.
Can there be more appropriate or
profitable question than that asked in
our text? "What shall do then with
Jesus, which is called Christi" AS
we stand beside this fountain, what
can we say of the healing power of the
waters that flow from it2 What is he
to the world whose birth we celebrate
to-day? What is he to us?
This question has not always been
answered in the same way. At first it
would seem as if Christianity ought to
have been revealed with unmistakable
clearness; that its demands should
have been so presented as to preclude
dispute. In justification Of the fact
that they were not, it may be said that
perfect agreement in any realm of
thought would not be best. Contro-
versy is an essential element of prog
ress. Almost from the first there has
been more or less disagreement among
the disciples of Jesus with respect to
what he required of them. No ques-
ton in all the realm of thought has
excited more marked differences of
opinion or hotter dispute than that of
our text, "What shall do then with
Jesus, which is called Christi"
Though acknowledging one Master, the
disciples have yet stood arrayed against
each other. And while Christians
now are by no means as widely sepa-
rated in all respects by their differences
as formerly; while they are gradually
drawing into completer union about
their Leader, with respect to this ques-
ton "What shall 1 do then with Jesus,
which is called Christ?o there are yet
two quite distinct schools of thought;
the so-called Orthodox and the Liberal.
Yo1 are too well acquainted with the
answer which so-called Orthodoxy
makes to this question to need any
lengthy statement of it. In brief and
in plain language it is this: Christian
ity is an after thou( 1T in the creation.
Christ was sent into the world to repair
a mistake. Creation did not turn out
well. To use figure borrowed from
machinery, there was frail wheel
which did not bear the strain put upon
it. 1t broke and Christ was sent to
mend it. Man sinned and the moral
machinery was out of order. God was
very angry about it, and must needs
visit that anger upon the race in
measure equal to his infinity, unless
something was done to appease his
wrath. This was the Office of Christ.
He took upon his own shoulders the
weight of the divine anger. He re-
ceived our punishment. He suffered
instead of US. However, man must full
fill one condition if he profit By what
has been done for him. Otherwise he
is not saved from the infinite anger.
He must accept the sacrifice made on
his behalf through faith. Doing this
it will be as if he had not sinned. This
then is what we are to do with Jesus
which is called Christ. We are to re-
gard him as kind of shield between
us and the arrows of divine wrath. We
are to say, Lord, l believe"
My friends, is there not something
rather disparaging to humanity in
such use of Christ? 1t is proper to
accept the kindness of friends, and
even to ask them for aid in time of
trouble. But is it commendable for
person to put burdens, responsibilities,
duties upon the shoulders of his friend
which he should carry himself? What
would you say of person who stood
back and allowed his friend to do his
share in work in which his own well
fare was involved as much as that of
any one else? Suppose a person does
a wrong for which somebody else is
charged and keeps silent, letting that
other bear the blame. What would
you say of him? Would you not say
his silence was the meaner act of the
two? What shall we say of the person
who can rejoice in the doctrine that
Jesus has suffered for his sins? Ger
tainly the manly way, when we do